Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1874 edition. Excerpt: ...These 'allies' were the inhabitants of the Italian municipalities subject to Rome. Though callied allies, they were completely dependent on Rome, except that they were allowed a municipal liberty of local solf-government. They wero compelled to furnish troops to the consular armies, but their contingents were kept quite apart both in the camps and in the field. The men were drafted into legions, of which the strength varied according to circumstances. Usually their cavalry bore a much larger proportion to the infantry than in the Roman legion. Here a legion seems to have been 4,000 foot and 400 horse. The consuls appointed twelve prefects as commanders of the socii, corresponding to the twelve military tribunes in the consular armies. 3. Scripta. 'Enrolled.' Quinqueremes. 'Men-of-war.' These were the large ships with five ranks of rowers, though how the men were arranged, so as not to interfere with each other, must remain for ever a mystery. Celoces were light, swift despatch-boats or tenders, that waited upon the heavier vessels. 4. Latum, &c 'The question was put to the people, did they please and decide that war should be declared against the C. people?' Ferre ad popuhtm, legem understood, 'to propose a measure to the people.' Jubere was the term applied to the formal voting of the Roman people. Senatus decernit, censet, mandat; populus jubet. The verbs are in the subj. because they ask an indirect question. Supplicatio. Either a solemn thanksgiving or a solemn day of humiliation, according to the circumstances under which it was offered: here the latter. All the temples were thrown open by decree of the senate, and the statues of the gods frequently placed upon couches, to which the people addressed their prayers. The number of...